Shortly after the ink dried, Trae Young experienced jubilation while facing recurring criticism.
That’s because Young’s four-year, $221 million extension with the Washington Wizards meant different things to different parties. To the Wizards? It provided validation that they could attract a proven All-Star with organizational structure and emerging young talent. To Young? It revealed the Wizards’ faith in him as a scorer, playmaker, and leader. To outside criticism? It represented an overpay that limits the team’s financial flexibility once their young roster becomes eligible for bigger contract extensions.
As for one of Young’s key representatives? Aaron Mintz, CAA’s co-head of basketball, detailed Young’s strong value with his play, how he has elevated young teammates, and had already formed strong relationships with the key Wizards officials in the past.
“This is a no-brainer move for both parties,” Mintz told Fadeaway World. “Time will tell, but I’m excited for the season. I think Trae and this team are going to have a phenomenal year.”
Mintz spoke with Fadeaway World about Young’s new deal, his off-season regimen and why he has felt strongly comfortable with the Wizards roster and staff.
Editor’s note: The following one-on-one interview has been edited and condensed.
Given the view you have as Trae’s agent, how did Trae’s extension with the Wizards come to be?
Mintz: “He made it known at the time of the trade that this was his preferred destination. He is with Travis Schlenk, who drafted him [in Atlanta in 2018]. With Michael Winger, Will Dawkins, Coach Keefe, and David Vanterpool, there are so many people who come from Oklahoma City and were with Oklahoma when Trae was growing up in Norman. So there is a ton of familiarity with people there. I think there was also real intrigue with Washington D.C. It is a huge basketball community that has an extremely passionate fanbase. There is an excitement in being part of a sleeping giant in that market and being a part of something special with the young talent that is already there.
We’ve already had some players there with our agency over the last couple of years. I’ve known everyone in that front office for a long time since everyone’s days in Oklahoma, Winger’s days with the Clippers, and Travis Schlenk in Golden State and Atlanta. So I knew about the infrastructure they’ve built and how well-run that place is. So Trae went in with a ton of excitement. Then they added Anthony Davis. You can also just feel how thorough and how well-run that place is from every angle, with front office, coaching staff, player development, medical, etc. Feeling that excitement and fanbase in that city further solidified what he thought Washington D.C. could be.
Trae had a really great relationship with the Ressler family when he was in Atlanta and understood the importance of ownership. So when he was able to meet Ted [Leonsis] and see how elite an owner Ted is and how much he pours himself into that franchise and that city, that also spoke volumes to Trae. He was pretty much sold on everything throughout the year. But once the Wizards got the No. 1 pick and drafted AJ Dybantsa, that added more excitement to an already incredible situation.”
Will told me after the trade that it was important to show Trae that the Wizards are a player-centric organization. What jumps out on how they have shown that?
Mintz: “Will and Michael have been very intentional in how they’ve built everything with their coaching staff, player development, medical staff and player services to make sure that they’re doing everything to make things in a way where a player and his family feel comfortable. They have everything they need to have the best versions of themselves. In any career, if you’re happy going to work every day and you love the people that you interact with every day, it makes going to your job that much more enjoyable. That’s what the Wizards have really focused on creating there. Trae was excited for that going in. That’s what I told him I thought he would see. He’s been really impressed and loved the entire experience since he got to D.C.”
Trae tweeted the other day, ‘You’re about to get the best version of me.’ What do you think that looks like?
Mintz: “There is a focus and an excitement, with the way that he set up his summer from his basketball work and his strength and conditioning. He’s really excited about the young guys that have been there, the new young guys coming in, and guys like AD and Khris [Middleton]. He feels like there is a great group of players to compete with. He’s as locked in as he’s ever been with the work he’s doing this summer. He’s excited.”
You’re not training him. But from your lane, what have you observed what Trae has done with his offseason prep?
Mintz: “When I was in Vegas [for Summer League], he was getting his own work in every day and being with his teammates every day. He’s been working with Brandon Payne [also trains Stephen Curry]. Trae is also with his long-time strength and conditioning coach [Travelle Gaines]. Trae was also at so many of the Summer League games with the other events to cheer on AJ and the other young players. All of the young players and vets were at his press conference. What I’ve seen is tremendous camaraderie and continuity. Trae is pouring himself into the excitement of being the franchise point guard and being a leader of this group.”
How did you see Trae navigate this past year with Atlanta trading him after spending his whole career there, dealing with injuries and getting adjusted to a new team?
Mintz: “Trae had some phenomenal years in Atlanta. That city means a tremendous amount to him. The relationships that he’s had with that franchise mean a lot to him. But the last couple of years did not have the results that he or anyone there was wanting or hoping for. But he’s been able to get through those years that were tough. He also never really dealt with injuries much throughout his career. So to deal with the injuries that he had this year be behind him and be fully healthy now, he’s able to be ready with a team that he’s really excited about. That has him in a great place to just go out there with his guys and compete this year. This past year was tough with coming to the realization.
I think with the way the last couple of years had gone in Atlanta, he knew there was a chance that chapter was probably going to come to an end at some point. As that became more real, that was hard. For anyone who is a competitor like Trae is and just wants to play every single night, dealing with that injury was not easy. But to have that trade, he went to a new place and felt the energy and excitement with this new organization, a new phenomenal city, and a fanbase. With the mix of talent and teammates that he has, I think there were a lot of positives that came out of a brand-new chapter.”
Will told me that he feels there are misconceptions about how Trae is as a leader. He said that he’s told Trae to be himself unapologetically, but that he also has to evolve with a new team. What’s your view on that?
Mintz: “Trae is one of the phenomenal human beings that I’ve come across in this business, on top of being an incredible basketball player. You look at him from his AAU days; he was playing on the best team in AAU. He was leading the team with the No. 1 player in the country in Michael Porter Jr. Trae has been a leader from a young age all the way through. He led a team to the Conference Finals in Atlanta. As an agent, I was really excited that two clients of mine in Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, both went to Atlanta to play with Trae. In fact, Trae helped recruit both of those guys when free agency started to come play with him over there. I wanted guys there. When players play with a point guard like Trae, their numbers go up. He’s one of those elite point guards who makes the game that much easier for everybody else. It helps everybody’s numbers go up. He’s going to orchestrate the offense. He’s going to get everybody the ball. He’s going to do phenomenal things for his teammates.
The other thing that I’ve seen with Trae is that he loves taking the young guys under his wing. He trains with them. He brings them out to Oklahoma. He’s done that for me with other young clients of ours, even with other teams. He’s brought them in and trained with them and has led them. I think that is something that Will is spot on about. As a point guard, you have to be the orchestrator. You have to be the leader. That’s what he thrives on. That’s why he’s looking forward to this opportunity to really show the Wizards, DC and the league what he can do as a leader. That’s what was most exciting for him. He gets to be the franchise point guard and leader for such an incredible group.”
Ever since the signing, there’s been different reactions to it. There’s been criticism to the length of the contract. There’s been criticism that that there’s going to be some role redundancy with some of the young guys. What is your view on what people are missing that share that criticism?
Mintz: “When you look at the last two champions in this league, star players played the point-guard position. It’s the hardest position to find in this league. The Washington Wizards got one of the elite point guards in his prime to run their franchise with all of these young players. He pairs so perfectly with Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. When you look at what Trae Young does with big men, to me, it is a no-brainer.
Trae is one of the few players in the history of the NBA to average 20 points and 10 assists for multiple seasons. To me, this is a no-brainer move for both parties. Time will tell, but I’m excited for the season. I think Trae and this team are going to have a phenomenal year. Michael, Will and Trae are all going to look incredibly well once this season gets going.”
Editor’s note: Young posted those numbers in 2022-23 (26.2 points, 10.2 assists), in 2023-24 (25.7 points, 10.8 assists) and in 2024-25 (24.2 points, 11.6 assists).
Mark Medina is an NBA contributor to Fadeaway World. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
